BMW to Recall 7-Series Cars Over Possible Motor Faults

May 29, 2002 | Dow Jones

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG said Tuesday it is recalling thousands of cars in its new 7-Series launched last November, to check for two possible defects.

One potential problem, which may affect 8,000 cars made between September and December 2001 , is with a throttle valve, said Munich -based BMW. The other is with an electronic fuel pump and may affect 15,000 cars produced between October 2001 and April this year. Some cars may have both defects.

The pump problem "may lead to the motor not getting enough fuel and the vehicle stalling," BMW said.

BMW estimated it has sold 32,000 of the 7-Series, which has a starting price of 65,000 pounds ($59,859), since it was launched six months ago. It said it doesn't yet know how much the recall will cost the company.

The car maker will talk with the various suppliers of the parts involved and may ultimately share the costs, BMW said, declining to name the suppliers. "It's not an action that will result in burdening the earnings or for which we weren't prepared," BMW spokesman Wieland Bruch said.

Analysts are generally unfazed by recalls, which are increasingly common in new cars -- especially those with complicated technology -- and are generally covered in advance by provisions.

BMW recalled its new Mini last September after it discovered that the small car was prone to catching fire when refueling because of static-electricity build-up. Only 500 Minis had reached customers at the time.

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